Sponsored: Thriving in a Value-Based Environment: Three Post-Acute Trends Shaping the Landscape

Post-acute care is a vital component of a patient’s healthcare journey. As healthcare shifts from volume to value, the responsibility of helping patients safely return to their normal lives after a hospital stay is increasingly important. Here is a closer look at some of the trends impacting post-acute care today.

#1 Increased penalties for readmissions

Healthcare facilities now face large fines for high rates of 30-day readmissions—and with good reason. Readmissions are costly, nearly doubling the average Medicare payment for a patient readmitted during a post-acute episode. With many adverse events occurring during the transition from acute to post-acute care, it is critical that providers in both spaces work together to achieve optimal patient outcomes and facilitate smooth handoffs.

#2 Baby boomers with multiple chronic conditions

Baby boomers, the second largest generation, are beginning to utilize healthcare services at high rates. People ages 65-plus are three times more likely than other Americans to have multiple chronic conditions and are also some of the costliest patients. Having complex, coinciding health needs, almost guarantees that boomers see numerous providers, increasing their risk for conflicting and redundant services.

#3 Increased standards for preferred networks

Healthcare providers are continuing to refine their post-acute networks, necessitating that those providers improve quality and lower costs to gain preferred status and drive positive outcomes.

Implications for providers

Providers must collaborate to succeed in a value-based environment and it all starts with seamless care coordination.

PatientPing is a Boston-based health technology company that is building a national community of engaged providers who are sharing information, coordinating care, and working together to get patients healthier faster. By joining the PatientPing community, providers get notified in real-time when their patients receive care elsewhere and are able to share care instructions with other providers. PatientPing’s national care coordination community includes physicians, nurses, case managers, and care coordinators across hospitals, emergency departments, accountable care organizations (ACOs), physician practices, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, inpatient rehabilitation centers, payers and other providers. By connecting care teams through real-time information sharing, PatientPing enables providers to deliver higher quality and more cost-effective care, improving patient outcomes and experience.